Primary battery.



PATENTED JULY 28,1908.

E. e. DODGE. PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLIOATION TILED APR. 29, 1907.

2SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m N M T .I A

WITNESSES:

No. 894,487; PATENTED JULY 28, 1908.

B. G. DODGE. PRIMARY BATTERY.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 29, 1907.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR Arron/ms nrrn STATES rann EBEN G. D ODGE, OF NEWARK,NEW JERSEY.

PRIMARY BATTERY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 28, 1908.

Application filed April 29, 1907. Serial No. 370,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that I, EBEN G. DODGE, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Primary Batteries, ofwhich the followin is a specification.

My invention re ates to improvements in primary or voltaic batteries ofthat class in which the negative electrode consists of a plate of oxid,of cop er or other depolarizing agent properly m0 ded and agglomerated,the positive electrode of which consists of a plate or plates of zinc.

The object of my invention is to simplifyand cheapen the construction ofbatteries of the said class so that renewals of the same will be lessexpensive and more readily carried. out.

In the previous manner of constructing these batteries it has been thecustom to suspend the separate elements of.the battery from the cover byindependent means, the preferable way being to support the negativeplate in a frame depending from the battery cover and to also suspendthe positive plates from the cover by suspension devices independent ofthe frame. Owing to the expense of these frames it has been the customwhen renewing the batteries to take out the frames, clean them and renewthe parts, all taking more or less time to take the battery apart, cleanthe frame and renew the electrodes. I obviate this loss of time byconstructing the battery so that both the electrodes are su ported byone frame or hanger secured to t e battery cover with but one clamp.

The ex ense of my im roved frame being comparatively small, all tliat itis necessary to do when the electrodes become exhausted is to loosen theclamp, throw away the hanger with its attendant electrodes andsubstitute a new set in its place by clamping the new hanger to thecover.

In the preferred form of my invention I construct the frame or hanger ofsheet metal preferably of the form of an inverted U, the same beingsuitably formed to hold one elec trode, and to afford means for readilydetachably securing it to the cover. To this frame or hanger I alsosecure the zinc plates or positive electrode of the battery by aninsulating block or blocks.

My invention consists further in the details 'of construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more particularly described and thenspecified in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a vertical sectionthrough a battery embodying my invention, part of my invention beingshown in side elevation and part in section. Fig. 2 is a transversevertical section through the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectionthrough a detail. Fig. 4 is a side elevation and partial section of amodification in the manner of supporting the positive electrode. Fig. 5is a horizontal section on the line a, a Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a verticaltransverse section through an apparatus embodying a further modificationin the manner of supporting the )ositive electrode.

1 indicates the or inary containing jar preferably of porcelain andprovided with the usual cover 2 also preferably constructed ofporcelain.

3 indicates a frame or hanger preferably constructed of a strip ofcopper plated iron or sheet copper, the edges of said strip being turnedup to such an extent as to conform to and lie fiat against the bevelsurface of the plate 7. The whole frame is preferably given a U shapedform. The upper part of said frame is held in a suitable groovepreferably in a plate 4 countersunkin the cover 2 by means of a bolt 5terminating in a tapered head 5 to engage the hanger or frame 3. Saidtapered head 5 is adapted in one position to pass through an elongatedslot in the frame 3 and when turned at a right angle to this positionthe tapered head engages the side members of the frame 3 so that upontightening the thumb-nut 6, the tapered head forces the side members ofthe frame against the side walls of the groove in the plate 4; and locksthe frame securely to the cover 2 as shown in Fig. 2. Also by means ofthis connection a firm contact is secured between the frame 3 and thebolt 5 which forms a binding post for one pole of the battery. I do not,however, limit myself to this particular means for clamping the frame orhanger to the cover as obviously various other methods of detaohablysecuring the frame to the cover might be employedv Also the plate 4might be dispensed with and the tapered groove which receives the frame3 could be formed in the bottom of the cover proper.

7 indicates a plate preferably of copper mad, as previously described,the edges of Which fit into the channels of the hanger 3 and held insaid hanger by lips 3 formed in the lower ends thereof. The plate 7 isalso further clamped in the hanger 3 by a horizontal cross-piece 8preferably of similar material and form to the hanger 3 and secured ateither end to the sides of the frame or hanger.

The sides of the cross-piece 8 are provided with adepending lip 8 asshown in Fig. 3 having a rectangular opening therein coinciding with asimilar opening in the plate 7.

The zinc plates or positive electrode of the battery indicated at 9 aresecured to an insulating block or blocks 10 and to the crosspiece 8 by asuitable bolt 11. The blocks 10 pass through the openings in thecross-piece 8 and plate 7 and are preferably provided with shoulders oroff-sets adapted to press against the sides of the cross-piece as shownin Fig. 2. It will also be seen that the bolt 11 serves to electricallyconnect the two zinc plates. Thus one pole of the battery is formed atthe bolt 11 and a wire is attached thereto and passes through a slot inthe cover 2. The other pole is obviously formed at the bolt 5 forming abinding-post by means of lock nut 12.

In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the insulating blocks 10 aresecured to the sides of the hanger 3 by a horizontal tie-bolt 13, saidblocks being provided each with a shoulder forming a seat for the zincplate 9, in this case the plate preferably taking an elliptical formpassing around the outside of the frame 3.

In the modification shown in' Fig. 6 the positive electrode is formed ofone zinc plate doubled over to pass on either side of the negative plate7 and supported by the block 10 mounted upon the top of the cross-piece8.

WVhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a voltaic battery, the combination with an inverted U shapedhanger of a copper oXid plate supported in said hanger, a crosspiecesecured to the sides of said hanger and zinc plates secured to saidcross-piece but insulated therefrom.

2. In a voltaie battery, the combination of a sustaining frame or hangerconsisting of channeled sheet metal, a copper oXid plate supported insaid channels, a cross-piece connecting the sides of said frame, a pairof zinc plates su ported by said frame or hanger but insulate therefromand means for electrically uniting said zinc plates as and for thepurpose described.

3. In a voltaic battery, the combination with the electrodes thereof, ofa frame or hanger depending from the battery cover and adapted tosupport said electrodes, means for detachably securing said hanger tothe battery cover and independent means for in sulating said electrodesfrom each other in. said hanger as and for the purpose described.

4. In a voltaic battery, the combination of an inverted U shaped frameor hanger, a copper oxid plate supported in said hanger, a cross-piececonnecting the arms of said hanger, a pair of zinc plates suiported bysaid cross-piece, insulating blocks between said zinc plates and saidcross-piece and a bolt passing through said insulating blocks andconnecting said zinc plates, and for the purpose described.

5. In a voltaic battery, the combination of a sustaining contact frame,a negative plate for the battery supported in said frame, a positiveplate or plates for the battery supported by said frame and insulatingmeans secured to said frame for securing said positive )late or platesthereto.

6. n a voltaic battery, the combination with the plates forming theelectrodes thereof, of a cover provided with a groove in the undersidethereof, a sustaining frame adapted to support said plates and means fordetachably securing said frame to said groove in said cover.

7. In a voltaic battery, the combination with the plates forming theelectrodes thereof, of a cover having a groove therein, a sustainingframe adapted to support said plates, and means for forcing the sidemembers of said frame against the walls of said groove as and for thepurpose described.

8. In a voltaic battery, the combination with the plates forming theelectrodes thereof, of a cover provided with a groove on the undersurface thereof, a sustaining frame or hanger adapted to support saidplates, a tapered head adapted to engage the side members of said frameand means operating on said tapered head to force said side members ofthe frame against the walls of the groove as and for the purposedescribed.

9. In a voltaic battery, the combination of a copper oXid plate havingbevel edges and a supporting contact frame provided with side membersintegral therewith adapted to make contact with said plate on both facesof the bevel.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this18th day of April A. D. 1907.

EBEN G. DODGE. Witnesses:

O. F. Trsornvna, Jr., LILLIAN BLOND.

